Simply Strawn

September 2, 2014

I can't believe our little girl is already 2 1/2! She is sweet, empathetic, inquisitive, goofy, polite, and bubbly. She is always singing or dancing with a smile on her face. We have truly been spoiled by this girl who puts the color in our world. Happy 2 1/2 years Zoe!

September 1, 2014

1. Tom Petty (and the Heartbreakers)- I have always been a fan of classic rock but for some reason TPATH was never on my radar. On my four hour drive to Fredericksburg last month I was flipping through channels and stopped when I heard Tom Petty talking. Turns out I caught a "rerun" of him on SiriusXM Town Hall. TPATH had an entire station devoted to them for a month or so and I caught the tail end. I usually don't listen to talk radio or talk shows because listening to people talk puts me to sleep. But Tom Petty was so interesting and funny- so funny! They played a bit of music in between the show and after and I never changed the station. Our cottage in Fredericksburg had Dish (which also happens to have SiriusXM music channels) so, naturally, I listened to TPATH there as well. And the entire four hours back home. When I got home I downloaded my favorite songs onto my phone so I can listen to them whenever I want (mostly in the car). TPATH is coming to town later this month and I really, really want to go. I have basically been asking Nick every day to make it my birthday and Christmas present. Did you know that Tom Petty was in The Postman? I love crappy Kevin Costner movies so this is right up my alley. Did you also know that he was a series regular as Lucky in King of the Hill? Another awesome show that I have started watching reruns of in hopes of catching Tom Petty. I will stop now because I could go on all day about The Traveling Wilburys, his Michele Bachmann smackdown, and how I basically agree with all of his opinions.
2. Conair You Curl XL- I have had this curling wand forever but I never really liked it and would always just use my straightener to make curls. It wasn't until Carrie's bachelorette party last month that Katherine did my hair and explained how to do it that I tried using it again. Turns out it is pretty important to point the tip down and not up when trying to curl/ wave your hair. Mind blown. I have been using it to do beachy waves all month and I'm still not sick of it. It has four settings and I usually use the hottest two depending on how long I want my waves to last. It also came with a glove but I don't use it and I haven't burned myself... yet. I got it so long ago I don't remember where I bought it. If I had to guess I would say Target. Of course, it is also available online.
3. L'Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Jennifer's Nude- The first time I looked for this shade it was sold out. But when I went back it was mine. There are 4 or 5 other shades and each one is for a different skin tone. This one is for a Jennifer Lopez skin tone (not sure if she helped create the color or what). I think it would also look good with a fair complexion because it's not a very dark nude.
4. Pandora bracelet- My mother-in-law went on vacation and she got me a special charm while staying at the Hotel Coronado. She wasn't sure if I had a Pandora bracelet already but she got one for me to put the charm on and I'm so glad she did! I had a charm bracelet in high school (I still have it but don't wear it) and it was always fun to get a charm for special events. So I'm really looking forward to adding new charms to it.
5. Bobeau Side Ruched Striped Maxi Dress- This is another thing I had forever and never wore it. I was actually going to return it but I tried it on one last time before doing so and I decided to keep it. I have been wearing maxi dresses (or just dresses in general) because they are so easy to toss on. I like this dress because the material is really soft and stretchy.
6. San Antonio Spurs 2014 NBA Finals Champions 22 oz. Insulated Tumbler- My mom bought me this cup because she knows I love a good tumbler. I actually broke the first one she gave me on accident. It was totally my fault and not in any way a fault of the cup. It's very sturdy and I can put it in the dishwasher. I also like that it has a place for a straw if I want to use one. I also like that it is a bit oversized- but not too big for the cup holders in my car. It's great for these hot days.
7. Roux 'Tween Time Temporary Hair Color Touch-Up Stick- I have gray hair and I'm not ashamed to admit it. My hair grows very quickly (this can be a good thing and a bad thing) so even though I religiously get my hair done every six weeks I have quite a bit of gray to cover up. I have tried a spray and liquid cover up (as well as a rinse you put on wet hair in the shower) and this stick is the best. The stick is easy to travel with, not messy, and the light brown color is the perfect match for my hair color. It can look a little waxy after applying but I just run a comb through it. I have also found that it works a little better if I apply it when my hair is still wet as opposed to after I have dried it. I found mine at Sally's.

August 15, 2014

The first weekend of August we celebrated my best friend and her upcoming wedding. We rented a cottage in Fredericksburg for the weekend and had a great time eating and drinking wine, of course! *Most of these pictures were shamelessly stolen from Carrie and her soon to be sister-in-law, Emily. I need to up my photography game!

The view from cottage #3

Our first night at Navajo Grill.

The entire group after our first wine tasting.

BFF's!

At Becker Vineyards (our second tasting) right before some delicious pizza.

In our awesome party van! Carrie appears to pass out in the last frame.

At our fourth and final wine tasting.

The bachelorette at her lingerie party. Katherine was responsible for pretty much all of the cute decor!

After our dinner at Hilltop Cafe.

We had an elk pen outside!

Our brunch at Bejas before shopping.

We had such a fun weekend! It was great to stay in a cottage with my best friends and just get to hang out together like old times. I'm thinking we will have to make the trip a yearly event! I am so honored to be a part of Carrie's big day and I look forward to many more wedding events and the actual wedding, of course!

1. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Peek-a-Boo Cuckoo- Sometime this summer Zoe became obsessed with clocks (and watches which you will see below). She would point out every single clock and say "cuckoo clock!" Since we weren't going to spend hundreds (or is it thousands?) of dollars on a real cuckoo clock Nick ordered a kid version from Amazon. The clock is really cute! It plays music and there are buttons to push, levers to pull, things to twist, etc. Of course, there is a little bird that says, "cuckoo!"
2. Creatology Kinetic Sand- I randomly picked this up for Zoe at Michael's one day. She's a big fan of sand so I got this and a little plastic box to keep it contained in. It comes in all colors (we obviously picked up pink) and the texture is just really cool. It's almost like liquid. I even find it fun and relaxing to play with. Zoe loves making little shapes with the sand then smashing them. I also found some molds around the house for her to play with. I picked up the purple sand when I saw it go on sale.
3. Disney Kids' Minnie Mouse White Rubber Strap Watch- For our anniversary in June Nick and I got matching watches and Zoe kept wanting to wear them (that was a big no). So when he got the cuckoo clock he also got her this watch. She loves wearing it and we are hoping it will get her interested in learning how to tell time on an analog watch.
4. Veggie Straws- After I had the ranch flavor of these at our 4th of July block party I was on the hunt for more. After looking at Target, Kroger, and Sprouts I could only find the plain ones. I picked them up and they are officially Zoe's new favorite snack. She seriously went though most of a bag today. Really any brand is great. I also found mini bags at Kroger which are great to carry around in my diaper bag. (I did manage to find the ranch flavor when I was out of town at HEB.)
5. Alba Very Emollient Sunscreen Kids Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 40- Last kid related favorite! I am very picky about my sunscreen and even more picky with the sunscreen I put on Zoe. So when I found a non-aerosol spray, broad spectrum, no nasty chemicals, etc I snapped it up. It was on the pricey side but it has been worth every penny. It's not greasy, has a typical sunscreen smell, and they spray is awesome because it doesn't get everywhere. How can I tell it's working? Zoe hasn't had a sunburn or even the slightest bit of pink. I think she also got some of my good tanning genes so it's possibly a combination of the two!
6. Kinky-Curly Perfectly Polished Nourishing Hair Oil- Ok this one is another pool related favorite. I have had this oil for a while and occasionally use it but I have found an even better use this summer. Since Zoe and I go to the pool more often than not sometimes that means going right after I wash my hair. Instead of blow drying it I will leave it wet and coat my hair with this concentrating on the ends. The sun warms the oil up so it's like a hot oil treatment! After my hair air dries (which can sometimes take until the next morning) it is so soft and silky. It's also great for using as a shine serum on dry hair.
7. Pink Sugar Rollerball- I have been wanting to try this perfume for a while so on a lone trip to Ulta I sampled it and found the rollerball size. Since I have so many fragrances I have started buying the travel or rollerball size. This way they don't get old and stale. Like the name implies, this is a sugary sweet scent. The scent doesn't last as long as I would like and isn't the strongest but that is perfect for the summer months.
8. Pacifica Enlightened Lip Gloss in Beach Kiss- A few weeks ago Sprouts was having a great beauty sale so I picked this up. The color is very light and sheer with a bit of shimmer in it. The scent is sweet but not overpowering. The consistency is not too thick or tacky. I have found that it wears off pretty quickly but the tube is oversized so I don't mind reapplying.
9. Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava Solid Perfume- This was another Sprouts sale find. I really love all of Pacifica's scents and I didn't have this one so I picked it up. Their solid scents are GREAT for traveling so I keep mine in the diaper bag at all times. After applying this to all my pulse points I run what's left through my hair. None of their products have alcohol in them so they won't dry out your hair. This scent is sweet with a little hint of citrus. Again, it doesn't last long alone but it can be layered with lotion and the spray perfume.
10. Kendra Scott Ellie Stud Earrings in Blue and Iridescent Drusy- Another Kendra Scott favorite- how original! Haha! I know I post about this every month but these earrings are the most versatile pieces I have. I had been wanting more studs and when I saw the drusy I knew they were mine. And so you don't think I'm crazy for buying two pairs at a time- my mom got me the blue pair. :)

June 30, 2014

1. Back to Nature Peanut Butter Crème Cookies- I picked up these cookies at Kroger because they were on sale (and Nick ate my organic ones). So I figured these would be a good substitute. These are even better! They aren't organic but they don't have any preservatives or HFCS. And I basically love anything peanut butter.
2. Where is Warehouse Mouse?- This is one of those little show/commercials on Disney Jr. (which is Zoe's new favorite channel). At some point she really started watching this. She gets so excited that she squeals with delight when it comes on. She narrates everything the mouse is doing which is pretty hilarious. I added every episode I could find onto her YouTube playlist and we watch them when she's in a bad mood.
3. Buc-cee- Nick and I picked this up for Zoe when we were out of town for a wedding. I had previously gotten her a tiny keychain and I knew she would love a bigger toy. As soon as we gave it to her she exclaimed, "Buc-cee!" She continued to carry it around all evening telling us she loved her Buc-cee. He goes almost everywhere with us (as does the keychain aka baby Buc-cee) and he is one of the select few stuffed animals she allows in her crib.
4. Bodycology XOXO lotion and body spray- I picked this up randomly at Kroger. I am pretty sure I was alone so I had some free time to go up and down the beauty aisles. I was surprised how nice this smelled considering it was a drugstore brand. But I figured it would be good for summertime when I'm constantly moisturizing and the spray is nice because it's much lighter than perfume. It does the job, smells great, and is an even better price!
5. At a Glance Calendar- Now I know I have a calendar on my phone, iPad, and one hanging in the kitchen but I felt like I needed a monthly planner so I could see everything at once. This planner is very basic, no bells or whistles, but I love it! It's a bit oversized but it's very thin so I can even put it in my bag. I love the oversized squares for the days because I can always fit everything in. There are even a few extra pages in the back for future dates, addresses, etc.
6. Old Navy Boyfriend Cuffed Denim Short & Linen Blend Short- After going through my summer wardrobe I realized I was in need of more, longer shorts. Just last year I ventured into women's clothing because I needed something long enough to cover my bum while chasing Zoe around. So I only had a few pair of "adult" shorts. I got the boyfriend shorts in the color above and white. I like that they are comfortable and casual. I got the linen shorts in black and chambray. I love those because they are ultra lightweight. Both styles are long enough to cover everything but not too long to be considered matronly.
7. Poke-A-Dot Ten Little Monkeys- I was shopping at Learning Express and the salesgirl showed me this book. She said it was new to the store and it was good for learning to count (which Zoe is). The little holes have a plastic button type thing that you press and it makes a click sound. So the idea is to count every time you click a button. Zoe was already very familiar with the Ten Little Monkeys story and she got the hang of popping the buttons right away. I can't wait to get her different stories. I highly recommend this if your child is learning how to count!
8. Target Gel Pens- I had to get these when I got my new planner. This package has every color and every finish. There are pastels, glitters, and plain gel pens. They bleed a tiny bit but you can't beat the price. They make scheduling the most boring appointments a but better.

June 8, 2014

So I know I said I would get better about posting to the blog and I only had a measly two posts last month. I even have eight (eight!) drafts waiting to be finished.

Obviously, we had a busy month and I personally had a few bumps in the road. Right before Mother's Day Zoe started sleeping in very late (so late I had to cancel play dates). She wasn't acting herself but didn't seem sick otherwise. During that time I had congestion (which I'm assuming was allergies). After that my allergies really got out of control. On top of that I injured my wrist at the gym.

The next weekend Abby, Will, and Matthew came to visit us and we stayed busy.

One week after injuring my wrist I chipped a front tooth. How, you may ask? Opening a package with my teeth! Now I know why my dentist always used to warn me about it. Luckily, I was able to get an appointment to have it fixed the next day. I was in a sad state.

The last weekend of May was spent in San Antonio for my sorority sister's wedding and Zoe stayed here in Katy with her Papa Bruce. On Sunday we got her home and she started acting oddly so we took her temperature and she had a very high fever. Fast forward to Thursday morning at 3 am (yes, I was waking up every 4 hours to check her temperature and give her Tylenol) and her fever finally broke. I wanted to see the doctor before it got busy with kids getting out of school so I called Thursday and they were able to fit us in that afternoon. As I was dressing Zoe I noticed some bumps by her hairline. I assumed they were from not bathing her that week (hello, high fever and cranky kid) and shrugged them off. We stopped by Chick-Fil-A for lunch and then we were seen by the doctor. She didn't seem concerned but she spotted more of the rash on Zoe's chest and back. As soon as she saw the rash she knew it was Roseola. Basically, another random virus that every little kid gets and it's going around here right now. There is no treatment for it- just Tylenol if the fever is uncomfortable and Benadryl for any itching. Luckily for Zoe the rash isn't too bad and it doesn't seem to be bothering her. Zoe has been a little trooper through it all. She has been getting anything she wants (haha that's mostly normal) like juice and donuts. She has been extra clingy but I have been enjoying the cuddles.

My mom visited us this weekend so we were busy again. It was nice to sleep in a bit and Nick and I went to see the new X-Men movie yesterday.

1. Fieldcrest Luxury 600 Thread Count Sheet Set- Nick's lovely cat, Silly, loves to scratch our mattress and she finally ripped the fitted sheet so we had to get a new set. I was getting sick of white so I requested something dark and this is what Nick picked up.The color matches our duvet cover perfectly and I love the feel of new sheets. The fitted sheet is also extra deep so it's not a battle to put it on.
2. Tangle Teezer- I was skeptical about this when I saw it but I heard good things about it so I tried it anyways. It was only $10 which is a steal compared to my other brushes. This tiny hand shaped brush is great at detangling my wet hair (I can't tell you how many combs I have broken in my wet hair) and Zoe's hair.
3. Earth Theraputics Hello Kitty Ergomatic Sleep Mask- I admit I only got this because it was Hello Kitty but I'm so glad I did. Unlike traditional eye masks the eyelid area is raised for a more comfortable REM experience. I have worn plenty of traditional eye masks and never had a problem with my eyes touching the mask but this one feels so nice. The nose area is also raised and the strap has velcro so it can be adjusted. I highly recommend this for anyone that needs complete darkness to sleep.
4. Mossimo Theresa Wedge Sandal- Like most of my Target shoes these were meant to be because they were the last pair and they were in my size! I had been looking for a new black wedge and these fit the bill. The top material is very stretchy and comfortable. I love the simple lines of this wedge.
5. Essie Serial Shopper- When I saw the name of this polish I knew I had to have it. But I got it home and saw that I already had something similar. I was about to return it but I looked up swatches online and discovered it didn't look like the polish I already owned. The bottle looks like a bright coral but on the nail it is more neon and orange-y. It is a really gorgeous summertime color. It requires 2-3 coats or a white base. This really is my current favorite because I painted my nails with this color three times in a row!
6. Kendra Scott Alexandra Earrings in Abalone Shell- I know, I know. Another Kendra Scott piece of jewelry! I got these at a special event where part of the proceeds were donated to a cause very dear to my heart. I usually go for the smaller KS earrings but I was drawn to these. I was actually afraid to wear these at first. I wasn't sure what they would go with but I soon discovered they go with everything. I wear these all the time! They are a great way to add a little sparkle to any outfit. Most importantly, they are comfortable and don't get in my way when I am running around with Zoe. The abalone shell is great for summertime!
7. Florida's Natural Au'some Organic Nuggets in Fruit Grove- I was only able to get these once at Target (and the last time I was there I couldn't find them) but they were a big hit! I almost didn't get them because they had a picture of a banana on the package and I hate bananas (so stupid, I know). Even though they were mostly for Zoe I wanted to try them too. They are your typical fruit snack with a delicious flavor- very addictive. I like them because they are easy to chew and the little bags are convenient for me to carry in my diaper bag. I just wish they were easier to find!
8. Cloud B Twilight Ladybug Constellation Night Light in Pink- Zoe has had this probably since she was born. I had to get it because it was a ladybug AND it was pink. They have other colors and different animals and they project stars and the moon in red, green, or blue. I used it a few times and she didn't seem to notice. Then one evening she discovered the moon. She has been obsessed with finding the moon when we are outside so I showed her this nightlight. So I turn this on for her every night so she can see the moon and the stars in her room. She must get her love of space from Nick. :)
9. Futuro Wrist Band- This is a boring favorite but it really helped my wrist when I injured it. I splurged for the top of the line adjustable and reversible version because I figured I would need it again at some point.
10. SureFit Slipcovers- I have been wanting slipcovers forever. I finally had an excuse when Abby, Will, and Matthew came to town. We normally use random blankets to keep the cats from scratching the couch but I was tired of the mish mash of colors. I went to Target and found a nice, neutral color and the chair cover was even on sale. They also have ties at the front that make them somewhat adjustable. I love that they are machine washable and they really keep the cats from scratching up the couch. They are not as fond of this material as they are of the couch material.

May 7, 2014

Even though Mother's Day is just four days away I thought I would share some helpful tips for picking out the perfect gift.

1. Always give a card- This can be store bought, hand made, or even just a nice note. I love to get cards and display them around the house for a week or two. If you get a store bought version be sure to write something personal inside.

2. Think of what mom really wants- If the mom in question works outside the home she may love a day with the kids. If the mom in question is a stay at home mom she may prefer to sleep in or have her husband take the kids out of the house for the day. (I am a SAHM and I absolutely love my job but I will be sleeping in on Sunday and only leaving the house unless I really want to). If mom has grown kids (that are moms themselves) she may want to do something with her kids and grandkids or go on a grown-up date with her child. Follow through with what mom says she wants.

3. Gifts don't have to be expensive- I don't know how much to stress this but most often the best gifts are FREE (see my above plans for Sunday). If you want to go all out and get an expensive gift that is fine too! But I can guarantee you that all moms will appreciate a homemade card, homemade gift (no matter how old the gift giver is), a phone call, a coupon book (you know- free hugs, good for one kitchen helper, etc.), breakfast/lunch/dinner in bed, or simply just time with their kids.

I hope this is helpful in deciding how to celebrate all the wonderful moms in your life!